@maturin1919 Yes.
Precisely.
Because although there is plenty of fakery and "bullshit," as you so succinctly and delicately put it, when the subject is ESP, psychism, and many other phenomenon out of the ordinary, there is also much which is genuine.
It's unfortunate the pranksters exist, but they are a fact of life. They make it inevitable born naysayers, prone to deny whole categories of experience, will automatically say, "You see? The whole thing is Baloney." And many others will nod their heads sagely, safely store that subject under 'hoax' in their mental files, and move on.
Psychics-- Edgar Cayce, the most documented and respected psychic in history, was not infallible, but undeniably had access to information from an undetermined souce about which he otherwise knew nothing at all.
Crop Circles--public perception to the contrary, many cannot be explained away as two men with a shovel, rake, and kite string. Many proven genuine.
Reincarnation--endless scientifically-compiled case histories prove it is at the very least circumstantially proven.
Extraterrestials--well-documented by video footage, trustworthy eyewitness testimonials (commercial/military pilots, policemen/law enforcement, former governmental officials/scientists with first-hand knowledge, etc.), archeological evidence, etc.
Paranormal--video recordings and visials, instrument readouts, testimonials, etc.
In the digital age, more and more evidence is accumulating these and many other similar phenomena cannot be easily and blithely dismissed as obvious fakery. To the contrary, they are slowly but surely being proven to be plausibly, if not CERTAINLY, real.
Is this evidence of 'god?'
Of course not. Who knows the cause?
But, as we study and document these things, the causes and sources will possibly, eventually, be pinpointed, and so, depending on our definition of 'god,' we will come closer to an explanation, a definition, and an answer for previously unknown 'mysteries.'
Naysayers, scoffers, mockers, debunkers are understandably skeptical of all this. Some people are born that way, or have been jaded by upbringing or life experiences.
The first blow for many was discovering there is no Santa Claus (seriously); from there it wasn't much of a leap to question the cariacture of 'god' offered by gullible parents and other authority figures.
It was easy to apply this well-founded skepticism to ANYTHING even remotely related to elusive/unseen events not personally observed.
This does not mean such skepticism amounts to final and indisputable truth.
What it DOES mean is an open and inquiring mind is necessary to make the necessary distinctions and differentiate truth from fiction when it comes to a field riddled with such a huge amount of fraud, fakery and outright lies.
There is a difference.
Atheists have wisely debunked the cartoon version of 'god.' That was easy. Common sense demands a negative verdict.
Common sense also demands, however, equal scientific scrutiny of other, superficially related subject matter..

@maturin1919 Not everyone who calls himself or herself a psychic IS one, obviously. Many psychics have said their gift cannot be used for personal gain.
I don't know much about faith healing, one way or the other, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are SOME real ones.
But I don't know.

@maturin1919 Check out Edgar Cayce.
Unless you're afraid it'll shake you out of your misinformed comfort level.
You may be ridiculously surprised.
On the other hand, perhaps you're just too content to care you don't know what you're talking about.
Faith healers? No clue, as I said.

@maturin1919 Instead of making stuff up, why don't you tap out his name on your phone keyboard and actually read something about him yourself?
You're like a lot of atheists: you open and close with your conclusion, without research, fact-gathering, or any other information from any source whatsoever.
Therefore, it seems, your "conclusions" are based on nothing but pre-conceived notions, unsubstantiated assumptions, and uninformed conjecture.

@maturin1919 Except you read just enough to make an inane comment like, "either Looney or a good con man." It looks like now you know just enough to be WORSE than ignorant.
Read, There Is A River, and then tell me was either.
I'M saying regardless of where he got his information, it was not from a book and he didn't make it up...it was too detailed and esoteric for that. And largely accurate in his medical diagnoses and treatments. He helped a lot of people.
SOME people are truly psychic. He explains it (in a sleeping trance, of course) but it's still mysterious, although far from 'magic'...more like scientifically grounded.
He's one of the only reasons I'm an 'agnostic neo-deist' rather than an atheist.
But you believe what you want. The truth is the truth...it doesn't change based on someone's opinion.
Have a nice day.

@maturin1919 We'll talk again. If I think of anything else to say maybe I'll be back for more.
Your mind is closed like a steel trap It's probably not your fault; maybe it's genetic? Overly-strict patents? Something else?
Anyway, hope we talk again.

I don't agree with your premise

@Storm1752 How so?

@Marionville Sorry. I re-read the original post and your response and of course you're right.
I differed with poster (and you) belief in ANY 'god' by ANY definition is therefore ludicrous.
No of course no 'god' is going to prevent or heal ANY malady.
God wouldn't be a person or something else person-al like that. Duh.
Nor anything to be worshipped or venerated. Give me a break.
What IS discussable is if there is ANY kind of 'god,' but that discussion goes on endlessly here. That's one of our main topics.
But that has nothing to do with the beer virus.

If 'god' is a THING, it wouldn't be worshipped any more than a beam of light or anything else.
If it WERE an entity, I certainly--based on 'his' track record--wouldn't be kneeling!

@Donotbelieve Or that could be a polite way of saying "lazy" Because, it's not like we don't have time right now!

@Donotbelieve I agree, I was being silly and I didn't think you were being otherwise either! That said . . . 5 kids?! Holy crap!

@Donotbelieve Ah well, we all have experienced that the word "adults" can have lots of variables to it! Being succinct alone is far less admirable than a person who is succinct and keeping five peoples lives functioning properly at the same time. I hope your evening is happening in a house full of cheerful people!